Plastic bag closure



Aug. 8,V 1967 R. w. HALBACH 3,334,805

PLASTIC BAG CLOSURE Filed oct, 22, 1965 /A/VENTOR: ROBERT W. HALBACH,

United States Patent O 3,334,805 PLASTIC BAG CLOSURE Robert W. Halbach,415 WCU Bldg., Quincy, Ill. 62301 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,2153 Claims. (Cl. 229-62) This invention relates to a plastic bag closureand particularly to a closure that is so effective in closing a plasticbag that it locks the bag closed and, in so doing, seals the closed areain an airtight and watertight lock.

Plastic bags have become popular for use to contain various products,including foods. The plastic bags have various potential advantages overpaper bags which include the properties of being airtight, watertight,and strong. Also, the plastic is transparent so that its contents can-be visually examined. These potential advantages are usually lost,however, because of the absence of a satisfactory and effective closuredevice for the bag. If the closure is ditlicult to operate, persons willnot bother to use it. If it tears the plastic, it will limit the life ofthe container and probably will not produce a watertight and airtightclosure.

The principal object of this closure device is designed to achieve theforegoing desired results.

In general, the enclosure comprises a clip of plastic or similarmaterial permanently attached to the plastic bag. The clip is bifurcatedto provide areas with a space -between them. The clip is attached to thebag in such a way that the arms project away from the bag.

The closure is used by twisting the end of the bag, as is so often donein attempts to close a bag, and then passing the twisted portion betweenthe prongs of the bifurcated clip to lock the bag in the twistedcondition. The result of this clip is that a twisted portion remains intwisted condition because of this lock, and it is an object of theinvention to provide a closure device that automatically assures that aportion of a twisted part of the bag will remain twisted after the lockis set in place. This object is accomplished because the length of theclip to its free end is such that a portion of the twisted area must betrapped between the point of attachment of the clip and the free end.

In addition to the foregoing, objects of this invention are to provide apositive and automatic closure device for a plastic bag that closes thebag in an airtight and watertight lock that is inexpensive, that iseasy. to use and understand, and that does not rip the plastic bagmaterial.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

In the drawing:

FIGURE l is a plan view of a bag with this closure device, showing thebag in attened condition without any contents;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line 2 2 ofFIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view in section taken along the line 3 3 ofFIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged View in section taken along the line 4-4 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged isometric view of the closure clip;

FIGURE 6 is a reduced scale side elevation view of the bag and closureclip, partly shown in section, showing a sample loaf of bread, beforeclosing the bag;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to that of FIGURE 6, but showing theintermediatestep of closing the bag wherein the end of the bag istwisted but the closure is not set in place; and

FIGURE 8 is a side elevation view similar to FIGURE 6 but showing thebag completely closed and locked.

Referring to the drawing, the bag 10 may be of any size and shape andmay be made of any of the usual plastics that are employed for thispurpose. This bag has `a generally sleeve-like side wall 11 closed atthe bottom 12 by a suitable sealer means 13, usually a heat seal. Theupper end 14 is open to permit introduction of articles into the bag 10.

A clip 16 is fastened to the side 12 of the bag 10.*The clip 16 has abase 17 and sides 18 and 19 that are separated by a central cutawayportion defining spaced parallel inner edges 20 and 21 which meetdiverging edges 22 and 23 in curved intersections 24 and 25,respectively. The edges 22 and 23 intersect parallel outer side edges 26and 27 in curved intersections 28 and 29, Irespectively. The clip 16 ispreferably made of a relatively stil plastic but it may be made of othersimilar suitable materials which are suiciently rigid and long lastingto perform the function to be described. As FIGURE 1 shows, the clip 16is fasterned to the side 12 near its base 17. It may .he fastened byglue or -by a suitable tape 35, or it may be bonded with heat orchemical.

The drawing shows the clip 16 attached adjacent the edge 14 of the openend of the bag 10, and this is the preferred position because itprovides maximum capacity for the bag 10. However, the clip 16 may beattached at other places to perform its function now to Ibe described.

To use this bag 10, and the clip 16, the bag is filled with its intendedcontents. In the illustration, there is a loaf of bread 30 in the bag10, and it is desired to close the open end 14 of the bag and to lockthat end in an airtight and watertight condition until such time as thebag is opened for access to its contents. Use of the closure of thisinvention is very simple. The portion 31 of the bag 10 between the clip16 and the contents 30 is twisted as shown in FIGURE 7 and as itconventionally done in efforts to close bags. Then, the clip 16 is movedinto a position which will permit p-art of the twisted portion 31 toenter the space between the edges 20 and 21. Because the clip isattached adjacent its base 17 to the side 11 of the bag 10, thisnecessarily requires the positioning of a portion 32 of the twistedportion 31 between the edge 17 of the clip and the space between theedges 20 and 21, as shown in FIGURE 8. When the twisted portion 31 ispressed tightly between the prongs 18 and 19, this portion 32 remainstwisted and cannot become untwisted because it is locked between thespaced parts of the clip 16. FIGURE 8 also shows a portion of the bagtwisted below the clip 16. This part may automatically un-roll when theclip 16 is freed. That is what happens to conventional bags when theyare twisted. However, the portion 32 is locked in the twisted condition,and the bag is therefore closed in an airtight and watertight condition.

'Ihe converging edges 22 and 23 are yfeatures of the invention becausethey provide a wide entry for the twisted part of the bag 30 into thespace Kbetween the prongs 18 and 19. The curved ends 28 and 29 preventpuncturing of the bag 10. The edges 22 and 23 meet the edges 20 and 21in smooth converging edges 24 and 25 to guide the twisted portion of thebag into the locking area between the edges 20 and 21 without puncturingthe bag.

To gain access to the bread 30, the clip 16 is simply pulled free of thetwisted portion 31 and the bag is opened. It can be closed thereafter bytwisting again and replacing the clip 16. Since the clip does notpuncture the bag or tear the bag, it may be used many times. Because theclip is attached near its base 17, it is impossible to fail to trap atwisted portion 30= of the bag to get the desired lock.

Various changes and modications may be made within the purview of thisinvention aswillwbe readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Suchchanges and modiications are within the scope and teaching of thisinvention as defined -by the claims appended thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A -bag of flexible twistable material having an open end, and a clipfor closing the open end, the clip cornprising a relatively rigid memberhaving parts dening a space for receiving and releasably lockingtherebetween a twisted portion of the bag, the clip being attached tothe side of the bag thereby enabling locking of a twisted portion of thebag between the place on the bag of attachment of the clip to the bagand the place on the bag received within the space of the clip.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the clip is attached to the sideof the bag adjacent the base of the clip located remotely opposite thesaid space.

3. The clip of claim 1- wherein the space of the clip is defined byopposing generally parallel edges with a divergent entrance to the spacebetween the parallel edges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,973,131 2/1961 Mead et al.229--66 3,164,249 l/ 1965 Paxton 206-56 3,233,821 2/1966 Ehlers I229--66FOREIGN PATENTS 571,439 3/ 1959 Canada.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR,v Primary Examiner. D. M. BOCKENEK, AssistantExaminer.

1. A BAG OF FLEXIBLE TWISTABLE MATERIAL HAVING AN OPEN END, AND A CLIPFOR CLOSING THE OPEN END, THE CLIP COMPRISING A RELATIVELY RIGID MEMBERHAVING PARTS DEFINING A SPACE FOR RECEIVING AND RELEASABLY LOCKINGTHEREBETWEEN A TWISTED PORTION OF THE BAG, THE CLIP BEING ATTACHED TOTHE SIDE OF THE BAG THEREBY ENABLING LOCKING OF A TWISTED PORTION OF THEBAG BETWEEEN THE PLACE ON THE BAG OF ATTACHMENT OF THE CLIP TO THE BAGAND THE PLACE ON THE BAG RECEIVED WITHIN THE SPACE OF THE CLIP.